Nachzehrer

The Nachzehrer ('after-devourer') is a form of revenant documented primarily in northern Germany, Silesia, and adjacent Slavic regions. Unlike a typical vampire, it did not rise from its grave — instead it remained in the coffin, gnawing its own burial clothes and flesh. This act supernaturally drained the vitality from its living relatives, who sickened and died in sequence.

Remains in the grave in its corpse form but is semi-animated — its eyes may be open, it gnaws constantly, and it holds the thumb of one hand in the other fist. The gnawing sounds could sometimes be heard from above ground.

Drained life-force from living relatives through a supernatural sympathetic link. Could cause an entire family to die one after another. In some accounts, if it stopped gnawing, the bell of the local church would ring of its own accord.